Trunk-fastener



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. MEDURAFT.

TRUNK FASTENER.

No. 311,848. Patented Jan.Z'7,1885.

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(N0 M08811) I 2 sheets -sheet 2.

. J. H. MEDORAFT.

TRUNK FASTENER. 110. 811.848. Patented Jan. 27, 1885.

778M wm Jwim m 1 @MAi-, fiy 49mm NITED S'ra'rns JOHN H. MEDGRAFT, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

TRUNK-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,38, dated January 27, 11.885.

Application filed June 20, 1884.

(No model To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN H. MnDonAn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements, in Trunk-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference mark ed thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a trunk catch or look of increased simplicity, cheapness, durability, and effectiveness; and it consists in the arrangements and combinations of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the several figures, Figurel, Sheet 1, is a back elevation of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a section of the same, taken through line X, and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of certain parts thereof. Figs. 5 and 6, Sheet 2, illustrate modifications in the construction of the device; and Fig. 7 is a front view of the catch or look, showing a modified form of apivotal finger-piece therein.

In carrying out the invention I provide hollow plates ab for the lid and body of the trunk, to receive the catching mechanism, of which latter 0 is a pivoted spring-catch working in a plane parallel with the front of the plate b, and secured thereto by means of a finger-button, f, having a bifurcated shank, g,which, passing through a perforation, c, in the pivoted catch, is secured therein by turning the arms of the bifurcation, as shown, Figs. 1 and 5. The pivotal catch 0 has a journal, 6, with a projection equal to the thickness of the front plate, b, and a diameter equal to that of the perforation (Z in said front plate. The front of the plate I; bordering the perforation is recessed to receive the fingerbutton f, whereby the said button is protected from damage when the trunk is being handled. The said button is provided with a bifurcated shank adapted to pass through a perforation in the front of the plate I), and through a similar perforation in the catch and fasten the said catch to the said plate, the prongs of said shank being bent outwardly over said catch, substantially as shown. The said button is also provided with a slight ridge, f, or slot f, to receive the finger or a suitable key forturning the pivotal catch. From the pivotal center of said catch ahook, h, extends, adapted to enter into holding contact with the upper plate, a, and from the opposite side of said center an arm, a, projects, said arm lying in a position approximately concentric with the journal 6 and acting as a spindle to hold a spring, 9', into proper position. Said spring bears against the arm-base of the arm 43 and an abutment, k, of the plate b, and tends to hold the hook it of the catch into a locked relation to the plate a.

To prevent the hook, under theinfluence of the spring, from passing beyond a point of proper contact with the opposite plate, I provide a stop, Z, which limits the movement of said hook, holding it in a position to engage the hasp or holding-lug on the opposite plate. The outer extremity of the hook his provided with an inclined, beveled, or rounded edge, m, to receive the hasp and enable the same to properly throw the catch, and a notch, 11., to receive an automatic holdback, 0. Said holdback or catch for the hook is preferably a gravit-ylatch suspended from the upper or lid plate, a, in such a manner as to hold the hook back from locked engagement with the hasp or lug on the upper plate after said hook has been unfastened.

The holdback may be constructed and arranged in a number of ways, three of which are shown. In Fig. 1 the holdback is pivoted upon a lug cast on the upper plate. In Fig. 5 a spring is employed to perform the service, and in Fig. 6 a vertically-sliding latchis shown. The holdback secures the hook until. the lid of the trunk is raised, when said hook is released and passes to a position to catch the hasp automatically upon the descent thereof. The

upper plate is provided with the said hasp or holding-lug p, the same being cast or otherwise rigidly secured thereon.

I am aware that other changes may be made I do not wish to be understood aslimiting mym, notch n, and a bearing, 1 for a spring, said self to the exact construction shown. parts being arranged and combined substanr 5 Having thus described the invention, what tially as and for the purposes set forth. 5 I claim as new is a In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 1. In combination, the plate a, having a have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of hi1sp Zrhlug, p, and gravity-catch 0, and the May, 1884;. p ate aving apivoted and sp-ringactuated I catch, 0, with a notch, n, therein to engage J MEDORAFT' 10 said catch, substantially as set forth. \Vitnesses:

in the construction of the catch, and therefore catch being provided with the hook h, bevel 2. In a trunk catch or fastener, the plate I), OLIVER DRAKE, having a pivoted catch working thereon, said T. F. CAMPBELL. 

